The apartment felt quieter than usual as Liam settled at the dining table, his textbooks spread out in front of him. He was entirely focused, methodically working through formulas and notes in preparation for his upcoming exam. It was a routine he knew well—Saturday nights for Liam usually meant studies and silence.
But tonight was a little different. Emily and Avery had last-minute family plans and had left for the night, leaving just him and Lily in the apartment. Liam half-expected her to head out, too, or at least leave him to his studies, but she had other plans.
Lily plopped herself down across from him, snacks in hand and an enthusiastic grin on her face. "Well, since it's just us, I'm keeping you company tonight!" she announced, tearing open a bag of chips. "Studying is way more fun with someone to annoy you."
Liam raised an eyebrow, trying to hide his amusement. "Annoying would be the right word for it," he muttered, attempting to maintain his concentration.
She ignored the comment, leaning over with a mischievous look. "Come on, Mr. Study Machine, you're always so serious. Maybe a little distraction would actually help you relax."
Liam sighed but let a faint smile slip. "Fine. Just keep it down. And no... throwing things at me," he said, nodding toward the candies she'd already lined up like tiny projectiles.
Lily pretended to pout, dramatically dropping her "ammunition." But she didn't relent on the chatting. As he worked, she filled the silence with light-hearted banter, recounting stories from her week and sharing snippets of her day-to-day thoughts. Liam found himself half-listening, the rhythm of her voice surprisingly comforting.
After an hour of this, Lily noticed his tired eyes and paused, watching him for a moment.
"Why do you push yourself so hard?" she asked, her tone softer than usual.
He kept his eyes on his notes. "I have to. It's just... part of how things are."
"But have you ever thought about why?" she pressed, resting her chin on her hand, watching him curiously.
Liam paused, then looked up. "My parents expect it. I don't think I could stop, even if I wanted to."
Lily's expression softened, and she reached across the table to give his hand a quick, reassuring squeeze. "You know, you don't always have to meet everyone's expectations. Sometimes, it's okay to take a break."
Liam glanced at her, his usual guarded expression softening just a little. "Maybe. But I don't think I know how."
The silence between them grew comfortable, lingering in a way neither expected. Before long, Lily was yawning, stretching out across her chair. She joked, "All this hard work's making me tired, and I'm not even the one studying!"
"Then maybe you should call it a night," Liam suggested, though he sounded almost reluctant to see her go.
But instead of leaving, Lily pulled a blanket from the couch and draped it around herself, curling up on one end. "I'll stay here a bit longer," she murmured, fighting off her fatigue with a warm smile.
Midnight Confessions and Comfort
As the hours stretched on, the apartment grew quieter, and eventually, Lily drifted off to sleep. Her head rested against the arm of the couch, her breathing steady and peaceful. Liam glanced over, feeling an unexpected wave of fondness for the carefree girl who had insisted on staying with him tonight.
After a few more minutes of work, he gave in to the drowsiness creeping over him. With a quiet sigh, he leaned back, closing his eyes, too tired to return to his bedroom. Before long, he had dozed off as well, his head resting a little too close to Lily's.
The Morning After - Unexpected Proximity
Soft morning light crept through the apartment windows as Liam blinked awake, realizing his position. He felt a warmth on his shoulder, glancing over to see Lily resting against him, still asleep, her head nestled comfortably on his arm.
For a brief moment, he simply laid there, watching her, the faint smile on her lips and the relaxed expression that seemed so rare on her usually animated face. He felt an unexpected sense of calm, one he couldn't quite explain.
A few minutes later, Lily stirred, blinking her eyes open and freezing when she realized where she was. She quickly straightened, a blush coloring her cheeks. "Uh… morning," she said, trying to play it off with a laugh. "Guess I kind of… fell asleep."
Liam looked away, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah. Me too," he muttered, his usual composure slipping as he fought to hide his own embarrassment.
Lily quickly regained her usual playful energy, smirking as she stretched. "You know, maybe you're not as much of a robot as you pretend to be."
Liam chuckled softly, surprising even himself. "And maybe you're not as much of an airhead as you pretend to be."
She stuck her tongue out at him, but there was a warmth in her eyes, a silent acknowledgment that this night had brought them just a bit closer. As they exchanged one last knowing glance, both of them knew that something between them had shifted. It was subtle, unspoken, but undeniable.